Even if it's surplus to requirements? It has a shelf life, demand is variable, and it's a better fate than simply throwing it away.
I'm a regular donor in the UK, and it also happens to our donations. It can be used as is, separated into different blood products (plasma, platelets etc.), or used for research purposes. It's not realistic to expect it only to be used for transfusions; there's a lot of uses for it in addition, and I can't see why you would want to control that.
The immunology research group I used to work in routinely received blood deliveries from the NHS blood service. It was used for HIV research if I recall correctly, and was done in partnership with the NHS.
I'm a regular donor in the UK, and it also happens to our donations. It can be used as is, separated into different blood products (plasma, platelets etc.), or used for research purposes. It's not realistic to expect it only to be used for transfusions; there's a lot of uses for it in addition, and I can't see why you would want to control that.
The immunology research group I used to work in routinely received blood deliveries from the NHS blood service. It was used for HIV research if I recall correctly, and was done in partnership with the NHS.